Castillo lifts Bombers

ABERDEEN, Md. — Ali Castillo, inserted as a pinch runner an inning earlier,
got the job done with his bat in the 10th inning last night as his RBI single
gave the Staten Island Yankees a 3-2 New York-Penn League win over the Aberdeen
Ironbirds.

Cody Grice walked to lead off the Staten Island 10th and went to third on an
infield single by Zachary Wilson that was deflected by losing pitcher Jose Mota
out of any infielder’s reach.

With two out, Castillo grounded a shot by third baseman Connor Narron to send
Grice home.

Three Staten Island pitchers held Aberdeen scoreless over the final six
innings. Matthew Tracy relieved starter Bryan Mitchell and turned in a pair of
1-2-3 innings. Francisco Rondon tossed three shutout innings.

Brandon Pinder picked up the save with three strikeouts in a somewhat hairy
10th. After the first two Ironbirds struck out, Martin Serrata reached on
shortstop Cito Culver’s throwing error. Mychal Givens singled Serrata to third,
but Pinder fanned Joe Vellaggia to end it.

Shane Brown got Staten Island on the board in the third with a single to
centerfield that scored Zachary Wilson.

Aberdeen scored twice in the home fourth on RBI singles by Jeremy Nowak and
Wynston Sawyer.

While the big hit eluded the Baby Bombers most of the evening — they were 3
for 16 with runners in scoring position in the game and left 13 men on base —
Brown had no such problems, he tied the game with a homer in the fifth and
doubled leading off the seventh. He was eventually erased on a play at the plate
and that inning ended with Reymond Nunez hitting into a 6-4-3 double play.

NOTES: The teams play again here tonight and tomorrow at 7:05 p.m. The
Yankees are home Sunday at 4 to meet Hudson Valley.